In the Mexican culture, faith and family go hand in hand. As a country, Mexico ranks second in the world for the most Catholics with approximately 78 percent of the population being Catholic.
The faith of many Mexicans and Mexican Americans is culturally linked to the story of Juan Diego in 1531. This is when the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego under the title of “Guadalupe.” She asked that he visit the bishop and request that a chapel be built on the spot where she appeared so that she might show the infinite majesty and mercy of God to all His children of America.
According to tradition, after a series of apparitions that were not initially accepted by the bishop, the Virgin Mary showed Juan where to pick roses, even though it was winter. Opening his cloak before the bishop, as the roses fell to the floor, a beautiful image of the Virgin Mary was revealed.
The shrine was built as requested. In the following seven years, more than 9 million Mexicans became Catholic.
Located in a borough of Mexico City, the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe is visited every year by 12 million pilgrims. making the Basilica is the most visited Marian sanctuary in the world.
On display at the Basilica is the cloak (tilma) worn by Juan Diego with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Made of cactus fibers, traditional tilmas last approximately 15-20 years. Juan Diego’s tilma, which has been verified by many experts and has survived a bomb explosion, is more than 500 years old.
The community is invited to attend the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Thursday, December 12, at Pope John Paul II Catholic Church located at 353 S. Pagosa Blvd.
A bilingual rosary at 6pm will be followed by special music leading into a 7pm Mass. Following Mass will be a reenactment of Juan Diego’s story, a dinner hosted by the Mexican families of the Catholic community and dancing.
To learn more about the Pagosa Springs Catholic Community, including the daily 6:30pm novena and dinner being held through December 11, visit ihmjp2.org.